Market Watch: Livin’ LargeThe biggest and best homes in the area.

By Hannah Monicken

Tragically, some of us cannot afford homes listed in the millions, but we can think of such palaces as inspiration for our vision boards, right?

$2,599,000Silver Screen
Bedrooms: 6 Baths: 7/2 Square feet: 9,624

Is not having a movie theater or fitness room in your house a stone-cold deal breaker? This opulent mansion may be the place for you. Located in Cockeysville, it features all the amenities—and we mean all: grandiose front staircase, library/study, elegant bar, outdoor pool, and the aforementioned movie theater (with reclining seats) and fitness room. Stock the fridge and you won’t have to leave your huge house … ‘til you run out of popcorn. —DIANE DONOHUE, COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE, 410-235-4100

$2,192,000Dream Cottage
Bedrooms: 5 Baths: 6/2 Square feet: 6,902

This sweet (yet sizable) Towson home comes straight out of a storybook—more cottage of the seven dwarves than woman who lived in a shoe. Don’t let the fairy tale feel fool you: This house will fit a full-sized family and their in-laws. Find your very own Enchanted Forest right in the backyard amid the impressively—and extensively—landscaped area behind the home, including stone footpaths, patios and majestic old trees. Not a bad place to spend your Happily Ever After. —KAREN HUBBLE BISBEE, HUBBLE BISBEE GROUP OF LONG AND FOSTER REAL ESTATE, INC., 443-838-0438

$1,795,000Horse Sense
Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 2/1 Square feet: 3,504

Hunting a country retreat? This 46-acre estate in Monkton is right up your bucolic alley. The beautifully renovated stone farmhouse blends traditional charm with a modern aesthetic—for instance, the regal kitchen features granite countertops and a stone fireplace. The barn is the real centerpiece, however. Though it was built in recent years, the structure looks like it was plucked directly from the Old West. Plenty of space for the horses you’ve been meaning to get, and the sprawling land leaves lots of room to run. —PAT WARREN, LONG AND FOSTER REAL ESTATE, INC., 410-453-0500

$3,200,000Nouveau Niche
Bedrooms: 5 Baths: 4/3 Square feet: 9,882

This contemporary luxury home in Ellicott City may not be for everyone, but it really makes a statement. If you’re in, the artful architecture might just awaken your inner interior designer—in fact, the house’s layout does a lot of the work for you with its floor-to-ceiling windows, dramatic spiral staircase and unique touches (like the custom entryway). And modern luxury elements, like the awesome outdoor pool and beautiful views, guarantee you’ll never grow bored.